Dallas, Texas

"…I was young, I had just given birth, I was in a foreign country in an unsalvageable marriage, I was scared and all I wanted was to come home. I was afraid Naldo would do something to stop me from leaving the country with Charlie, so I did what I needed to do…" Enjoying her club soda, sitting outside in a restaurant courtyard listening to Jenna's recount of her talk with Bobby, Sue Ellen was fascinated by the tale her friend was telling, having little idea of where it was going other than knowing that at some point Jenna and her husband had divorced and she'd moved back to Texas.

"I listed Bobby as Charlie's father on her birth certificate", confessing her actions, Jenna's tone of voice was softer than usual, which was understandable considering what she was saying. The information wasn't a huge shock to her, JR had briefly mentioned something about a birth certificate without corresponding medical records a long time ago, but still, shocking or not, it was significant.

"I didn't know the laws or what my rights were, all I knew was that I needed to get out and boarding a flight back home with an American rather than Italian baby was far less likely to raise suspicions. I didn't think very far beyond that", giving further context to her decision, Jenna appealed to her maternal side, making it easy to empathise with her as she'd really only done what she'd believed was best for her and her daughter at the time.

"Did your husband try to stop you?" knowing only her own marriage well, she knew for a fact that even if she left JR, it could never be so black-and-white, there would be a period of no contact between them, but eventually they would have to talk again; she knew it because she'd lived it.

"Fortunately, no. I hope to keep it that way too", keeping her words vague, her tone said a lot; whatever her marriage had been like, it wasn't something she wished to return to.

Accepting that Jenna was telling her what she wanted to tell her, how she wanted to tell her, controlling the narrative completely, she suspected things hadn't been as smooth with Bobby, who actually had a personal interest in the outcome of the story and was unlikely to be satisfied with loose ends. "How did Bobby react to all of this?"

"He understood", setting her now empty coffee cup down on the table, Jenna's demeanour gave nothing away.

"That's all?" surprised, she was sceptical that it was that simple. Bobby by nature was an understanding person, but he was also impulsive and surely finally getting an answer to a question he'd had for years had spurred some emotions for him.

Shaking her head, Jenna smiled, revealing a little more information. "Well, you know Bobby, at first he was ready to fight the world, me included, but then after the news sank in he was empathetic and sweet".

"Sweet?" believing Bobby could be exactly that, she did have to wonder what exactly the word meant when Jenna said it, especially since she seemed to be satisfied with how things had gone.

"Don't get any ideas; he's married, as he so likes to remind me every few minutes", sighing dramatically as she explained herself a little better, what had actually happened still wasn't entirely clear.

"So what was it then that made him so sweet?" genuinely curious, she thought back to her own personal experiences with Bobby's empathy and friendly nature, they had a platonic relationship only, but considering Jenna and Bobby had a romantic history she could only imagine that Bobby's reminders about being married had been said for a reason. A hug was a hug, until it wasn't, and a sympathetic ear was nice until that sympathy became personal.

"He was just… Bobby. I was scared to tell him, but now I feel relieved that he knows", sighing again, happily this time, Jenna's explanation wasn't particularly detailed but still somehow made complete sense to her.

"I understand", nodding, she had more to say, though as the smell of seafood wafted past her, speaking was the last thing on her mind.

"Sue Ellen?" hearing her name first, the second thing that occurred to her was the concern in Jenna's voice, and the third was that apparently she wasn't as good at holding a neutral expression as she'd thought.

"I'm fine, go on", gingerly sipping her club soda she waved off her friend's concern. She didn't have an explanation for why she felt nauseated, but she felt oddly sure that it wasn't something to be concerned about; as bad as it could be at times, it usually dissipated reasonably quickly and she had no reason to think this time would be any different.

"Are you sure? You look a little pale", sounding unconvinced, Jenna's words explained why, apparently it was written all over her face.

Shrugging embarrassedly as the ill feeling began to fade with the growing distance between her and the tray of seafood, she answered, "I'm sure, it's just that fish was just a little strong".

"What fish?" holding her hand up, as if to bring her attention to their foodless table, her friend's confusion was apparent.

"The fish the waiter just walked past with", nodding towards a table a few yards away where the occupants were being served their seafood dishes, she felt silly. Not one other table in the restaurant was looking in the direction she and Jenna were and that told her that when Jenna remarked that she didn't smell anything out of the ordinary, she wasn't lying.

"I guess I'm just sensitive", having no good explanation for why she felt the way she did, especially since it came and went, she wrote off her symptoms as nothing more than sensitivity, whether it made sense or not.

"I can think of another word", laughing lightly, Jenna looked at her expectantly, though what she was expecting was unclear.

"What's that?" genuinely unsure what word Jenna was referring to, she asked curiously, eager to hear what someone else made of it, because she didn't have a clue and JR was no help with his silly comments referencing heatstroke from being outside in the sun.

Apparently shocked by her genuine question, Jenna fell silent before confidently delivering her answer. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? You were dizzy and heaving on Saturday, couldn't stomach anything more than a club soda today, and now the smell of fish is apparent to you from across the room. You're either hungover, or your pregnant, and considering it's been days since you drank a considerable amount, I'd say it's the latter".

Laughing out loud as she listened to Jenna's assessment of the situation, the first and only thing Sue Ellen had to say was, "there's no way".

"No?" smirking, Jenna appeared doubtful.

"No. We're careful…" shaking her head, she wanted to sound confident, though as another waiter passed them with a tray of seafood, she began to doubt herself. It was unlikely, but not impossible; she couldn't swear one hundred percent compliance to prevention knowing that sometimes on vacation regular routines were forgotten, and she and JR were no strangers, plus, even in her darkest days before John Ross, she'd always been assured she was a perfectly healthy young woman.

"I'd see a doctor about that four day hangover then", shrugging, Jenna's facial expression said a lot; she didn't believe a word of her denial, and probably for good reason.

"Mm", murmuring a response, she felt hot and uncomfortable, firstly because it was terrifying coming to the realisation that for all the talking she and JR had done about their future, the decision may have already been made for them, and secondly because the seafood had been delivered to the table beside them and the proximity was not pleasant.

"You really don't look well. How about we go and get some fresh air?" reading her easily, Jenna was quick to make a decision, opening her purse, leaving more than enough to settle their bill, and then taking her by the hand and leading her outside, much to her relief.

To be continued…